The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that while 97% of Bangladesh's population has access to water, an astonishing 60% lack access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Millions of people, many children, are vulnerable to waterborne diseases and other health hazards.
Unlike more developed countries, water availability in Bangladesh depends on the seasons for over 160 million people. Monsoon season rains and flooding bring abundant water, yet the country struggles to store it for the drier months. During that long dry season, droughts quickly stress the nation's limited water supply, 80% of which agriculture consumes.
Geographics further complicate the Bangladesh water crisis. The country's major rivers, the Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Ganges, flow through countries like China and India. As populations grow, industrial demands from China and India limit the water reaching Bangladesh, exacerbating the nation's fragile water land to create a watershed supply of only 7%.
Water Contamination Arsenic, a deadly toxin, currently affects nearly 90% of Bangladesh's population. Described as one of the worst mass poisonings in history, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 30-35 million people are exposed to dangerous levels of arsenic every day. As this widespread contamination of groundwater continues, prolonged exposure can lead to cancer and severe damage to vital organs, contributing to one in every five deaths in the country.
The Bangladeshi government has tried to address the devastating arsenic situation by focusing on infrastructure to capture more rainwater and expanding access to safe drinking water. Over 100,000 new water points have been established, and efforts to mark contaminated wells have been implemented, although many of the painted markers are fading, and the risk persists.
The government must revamp arsenic regulations to make a significant impact. Current policies have the acceptable level of arsenic exposure set at 50 micrograms per liter, while the WHO's recommended level of 10 micrograms per liter. Leaders must also continue investing in the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research as the group explores arsenic treatment technologies.
As the Bangladesh government takes incremental steps to address the water crisis, it is a reminder that complex water challenges require private sector involvement. Families cannot afford to wait for lengthy studies and 50-year plans to have clear drinking water, especially when the products exist in more developed countries.
At AERstream, we have a viable, portable, and affordable solution. We recognize that water crises like those in Bangladesh require innovative thinking. AERstream’s cutting-edge technology exceeds the highest water purity standards and transforms moisture from the air into a pure, sustainable water supply for communities. With its machines now operating in Bangladesh, AERstream is actively providing energy-efficient solutions, ensuring that clean water is a right for all people.
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